Quranic Inspiration 431

There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah . We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone” except for the saying of Abraham to his father, “I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allah . Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination.

Chapter 60 Al-Mumtaĥanah : Verse 4

Explanatory Notes:

The Good Example of Ibrahim and His Followers, when They disowned Their Disbelieving People

Allah the Exalted says to His faithful servants, whom He commanded to disown the disbelievers, to be enemies with them, and to distant themselves and separate from them:

(Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him,) meaning, his followers who believed in him,

(when they said to their people: “Verily we are free from you…”) meaning, `we disown you,’

(and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever) meaning, `Animosity and enmity have appeared between us and you from now and as long as you remain on your disbelief; we will always disown you and hate you,’

(until you believe in Allah alone,) meaning, `unless, and until, you worship Allah alone without partners and disbelieve in the idols and rivals that you worship besides Him.’ Allah’s statement,

(except the saying of Ibrahim to his father: “Verily, I will ask forgiveness (from Allah) for you…”) means, `you have a good example in Ibrahim and his people; as for Ibrahim’s prayers for Allah his father, it was a promise that he made for his father.’ When Ibrahim became sure that his father was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself innocent of him. Some of the believers used to invoke Allah for their parents who died as disbelievers, begging Him to forgive them. They did so claiming that Ibrahim used to invoke Allah to forgive his father. Allah the Exalted said in reply,

(It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah’s forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief). And Ibrahim’s request for his father’s forgiveness was only because of a promise he made to him .But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Verily, Ibrahim was Awwah and was forbearing.) (9:113-114) Allah said here,

(Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: “Verily, we are free from you…”) until,

(… except the saying of Ibrahim to his father: “Verily, I will ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah.”) meaning, `You cannot follow Ibrahim’s example as proof in the case mentioned here, as being allowed to ask Allah to forgive those who died on Shirk.’ This is the saying of Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Ad-Dahhak and several others. Allah the Exalted said that Ibrahim and his companions, who parted with their people and disowned their way, said afterwards, while invoking Allah in humility and submission,

(Our Lord! In You we put our trust, and to You we turn in repentance, and to You is the final Return.) meaning, `we trust in You for all matters, we surrender all of our affairs to You, and to You is the final Return in the Hereafter.’

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The Qur’anic Inspirations

This work is an attempt to convey the meaning and message of the Qur’an in Simple English so as to benefit the general reader, both muslims and non-muslims. Quranic Inspirations website is a selection of 1000 Quranic Verses along with their translation and explanation compiled for the purpose of daily reflection.

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This work is an attempt to convey the meaning and message of the Qur’an in Simple English so as to benefit the general reader, both muslims and non-muslims. Quranic Inspirations website is a selection of 1000 Quranic Verses along with their translation and explanation compiled for the purpose of daily reflection.